USA > Illinois > Military history and reminiscences of the Thirteenth regiment of Illinois volunteer infantry in the civil war in the United States,1861-65, pt 2 > Part 19
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At an enlistment for the war, captain Everest's employment had been railroading ; but he had temporarily switched off into mining in the Rockies, and with fair success.
He enlisted from Chicago, and was mustered with the regiment at Dixon, Illinois. His enlistment is dated May 3, 1861.
He served as first-lieutenant until March 17, IS62 ; then promoted captain, vice Wadsworth resigned.
Captain Everest contributed, and his company contributed, their full share of the honorable service which gained the Thirteenth regiment particularly honorable mention front General Hooker, and other com- manders at Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Ringold Gap; and at the expiration of their three years' term of service, were mustered out with the regiment at Springfield, Illinois, on June 18, 1864, having served three years and two months.
While on a leave of absence home, in the winter of 1862 63, lieutenant Everest married Miss Nina T. Pratt ; and, with two daughters, is now living at Englewood, Illinois.
After muster out, captain Everest returned to Chicago and resumed railroading ; and his ability and efficiency are abundantly shown by the fact that, for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway, he has filled many important and responsible positions for the last twenty con- secutive years. ]
Isaiah Hibbard Williams,
Original Junior Lieutenant of the Company ; enlisted from Chicago,
May 23, 1861, and on the next day was mustered with the regi- ment at Dixon, Il1.
[Lieutenant Williams was born in Hadley, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, in February, IS20. At enlistment, he was thirty-three years old. He had a light complexion, light hair, and blue eyes, was stout of build, about five feet seven inches tall, and weighed about 170 pounds, and by occupation was a police detective.
He was of a pleasant disposition, always good-natured, was a gen- eral favorite, but had not the soldierly bearing of the senior lieutenant, and military drill was always irksome to him. He was a most genial companion, however, was a good singer, as was also the senior lieuten-
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ant ; and the two were in request for duett singing for the entire regi- ment.
Under Colonel Wyman, as Commander of the Post of Rolla, Mo. Lieutenant Williams, for several months, served acceptably as provost marshal.
On March 31, 1862, he resigned, went home to Chicago, raised a company of which he was made captain, and which was assigned to the Seventy-second regiment. Captain Williams took his company to the frout, but himself was made provost marshal of Columbus, Ky., for which service his peculiar ability fitted him. After some months, of this service, he again resigned and went into private life, and after fol- lowing various pursuits, died in hospital in Chicago, March 23, 1886, at the age of fifty-eight years and one month ] George Edward Hinman,
Original first-sergeant ; enlisted from Blue Island, Cook county, Ill.
[Lieutenant Hinman was born in the glorious historic town of Ben- nington, Vt., November 7, 1826, and comes of an old Connecticut family of English Puritans whose first American ancestor was Benjamin Hin- man, of Woodbury, Conn., and the American history of the family reaches back one hundred years before the Revolutionary War.
From Bennington the family moved back to Connecticut, from where they had originally gone to Vermont, and now settled at Litch- field, where the subject of this military autobiography passed his minority in school, and in learning the trade of a molder.
At about the time of his coming of age, the war with Mexico broke out and young Hinman promptly enlisted at New York City, for the war, and was immediately sent to Carlisle Barracks, Penn., and drilled for six weeks. expecting every day to be sent forward to the front; but at this time, Peace was declared, the war was at an end, and our soldier again became a citizen.
The drifting period which comes into the lives of most young men, now claimed our ex-soldier, and a migratory life for several years set in during which he could not decide for what, when, or where, to settle into something permanent ; and he passed through many vicissitudes which would have been dangerous to many young men, but in him, only seemed to strengthen the well grounded principles of a judicious early training ; and so, whether, as enlisting for two wars or as the successful leader of a revolting Mississippi river steam boat's crew against the unbearable abuse of a brutal mate, the exciting quest for gold in the Colorado canyons about Pike's Peak or, as a lion-tamer in a menagerie of wild beasts ; the out-come was to bring out more clearly a manhood which was the assurance of a citizenship which was safely trusted in by all who knew him. For many years before the Rebellion, Lieuten- ant Hinman had married Miss Anna Fay, of Blue Island, Cook county
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Illinois, and at the breaking out of the war, was surrounded by a large family of children. Leaving all, he enlisted for his second war, trusting to one of those many efficient and patriotic wives who made it possible to send into the field the very best men of the country, to care for home and all those sacred interests which our citizen soldiery must leave behind.
He was mustered with the regiment at Dixon, Ill., May 24, 1861. He was thirty-three years old, sandy complexion, light hair, and blue eyes, was about five feet ten inches tall, and weighed one hundred and seventy pounds. He served as first-sergeant until March 31, 1862, when he was promoted second-lieutenant, vice Williams resigned.
Lieutenant Hinman served all through the terrible Arkansas cam- paign, which completely ruined his health, and it was with the greatest difficulty that he made the journey from Batesville to Helena, Ark. One of his legs swelled frightfully, and the skin burst open lengthwise in two places ; and this caused him great distress ; and while we all prophesied his speedy death, his own courage never faltered.
He was discharged at Helena, November 10, IS62,' for rheumatism, and resulting heart disease.
The most loving attention, and careful home nursing, gave back to the soldier partial health.
Lieutenant Hinman has been honored by his townsmen with such official positions as his physical strength would admit of his undertaking the discharge of. He has been deputy sheriff, superintendent of police, and superintendent of public works ; and while in most precarious health, draws, a more than well earned, pension, lives loved by his family, and respected by all who know him.]
Frank Thoma,
Original second-sergeant; enlisted from Chicago and mustered with the regiment. When he joined Company I, Sergeant Thoma was 20 years old, of dark complexion, black eyes and hair, about five feet, seven inches tall, stout of build, and would weigh about a hundred and fifty pounds. He had a pleasant disposition, always cheerful and easily made friends with his comrades, and was tidy in his dress, and soldierly in his bearing.
Sergeant Thoma had drilled with the "Ellsworth Zouaves, "and had acquired facility in the intricate fancy drill of that famous body of citizen soldiery ; and now found the value of that drill which gave hini an enviable prestige among the comrades of the regiment.
Sergeant Thoma was transferred to the invalid corps on March 15th, IS64, and did not again join the company during the remain- ing three months of their service.
Sergeant Thoma is now a resident of Des Plains, Cook County, Illinois, where he is living in prosperous circumstances, and sur- rounded by an interesting family.
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Hyacinth Cunniffe,
Original third-sergeant; enlisted from Chicago and mustered with the regiment. He was of Spanish-Irish parentage, was twenty-two years old, had fair complexion, black eyes and hair, tall and slight of build, about five feet, nine inches tall, and would weigh about one hundred and thirty-five pounds.
Sergeant Cunniffe was somewhat singular in his ways, but not unpleasantly so. On the whole, generally liked.
Sergeant from date of enlistment to Nov. 10th, IS62, then pro- moted second-lieutenant to June 30, 1863 ; vice Hinman resigned, then first-lieutenant, vice Everest promoted.
At Lookout Mountain, the night of Nov. 24th, 1863, was cold, foggy and cheerless ; and Lieutenant Cunniffe was heard to say that he was going to some of the fires to get warm. Some of the fires within sight were those of the enemy, and it was presumed that he became confused and approached a rebel fire and was captured.
Although Lieutenant Cunniffe returned North after the war, and has been met by some of the surviving members of our company, 110 detailed authentic narrative of his capture and captivity, has ever reached the writer. His residence, not long since, is said to have been Grand Rapids, Michigan.
John B. Baker,
Original fourth-sergeant ; enlisted from Blue Island, Cook County, Illinois, and was mustered with the regiment. He was thirty-two years old, of light complexion, light hair, and blue eyes, about five feet, nine inches tall, of stout build and would weigh oue hundred and eighty pounds.
Sergeant Baker was good-natured and jolly, and was well liked. Heart disease compelled his discharge, Nov. 21st, IS61. John Paul Evans,
Original fifth-sergeant; enlisted front Chicago and mustered with the regiment. He was twenty-four years old, of dark complexion, black eyes and hair, slimly built, about five feet ten inches tall, and would weigh about one hundred and forty pounds ; transferred to Bowen's Battalion of the Tenth Missouri Cavalry, November 1, IS61. Pres- ent residence not known.
Charles Williams,
Original first-corporal; enlisted from the town of Worth, Cook County, Illinois, and was mustered with the regiment.
He was twenty-seven years old, of light complexion, light hair and blue eyes, about five feet ten inches tall, well built aud would weigh about one hundred and fifty pounds.
Corporal Williams had a soldierly bearing, clothes, arms and equipments always in good order.
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He veteranized January 1, 1861; inustered as a veteran January 29, 1864 ; was assigned to Company I, Fifty Sixth Illinois Infantry ; was given a Descriptive Roll and sent to the front. Present resi- dence not known.
David C. Button,
Original second-corporal ; enli-ted from the town of Worth, Cook County, Illinois, and was mustered with the regiment.
Corporal Button was thirty-five years old. A diseased leg caused his discharge from the service at Rolla, Missouri, September 21, IS61. Thomas Vaughn,
Original third-corporal; enlisted from Chicago, and was mustered with the regiment.
Hernia in the left side, compelled the discharge of Corporal Vaughn, on December 23, IS61. Present residence not known.
[Corporal Vaughn had been a British soldier. He was thirty-seven years old, spare build, about five feet nine inches tall, light complex- ion, light hair, blue eyes, and would weigh about one hundred and thirty-five pounds.
He was eccentric, but very quiet in his behaviour, and was in the habit of frequently, without regard to the time of day, brewing a little tea or coffee, at any camp-fire that happened to be lighted, whether in our company or not. This he did in a little tin fruit can with a wire bale or handle, which made it convenient for fastening to his belt when marching ; and even when a halt was called, even for a few minutes, which would generally be where there was water, the ever ready little packages of tea, coffee and sugar, which had come to be the inseparable companions of the veteran soldier, were taken from the haversack or knap-sack, the little tin fruit-can kettle was unhitched from the belt, the ever ready match had lighted a few small twigs; and in a surpris- ingly few minutes, a delicious cup of coffee or tea had been adjusted to the place where it would do the mnost good. ]
Orren T. Alfred,
Original fourth-corporal ; enlisted from Blue Island, Cook County, Illinois ; mustered with the regiment.
Corporal Alfred was twenty-six years old, served as Corporal to April 1, 1862, then promoted Sergeant. On November IS, IS63, at Helena, Arkansas, hemorrhage of the lungs compelled his discharge from service.
Frank Benthusen,
Original fifth-corporal ; enlisted from Algonquin, Lake County, Illinois, and mustered with the regiment.
Corporal Benthusen was twenty-two years old, and was only a little more than two months in the service, when he deserted while on furlough, August 3, IS61. Subsequent career not known.
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Anson C. Tuthill,
Original sixth-corporal ; enlisted at Chicago from Galesburg, Ill .; mustered in with the regiment; born in East Otto, Cattaraugus county, New York, on July 26, 1840 ; he had light complexion, light blue eyes, light hair, was five feet eight inches tall, stout build, and weighed one hundred and sixty pounds ; his occupation was railroad- ing.
[Corporal Tuthill was from English ancestors on his father's side, who settled on Long Island ; while his mother's ancestors came from a Scotch line, and settled in Massachusetts. His grandfather Crombie was in the battle of Plattsburgh, while his grandmother Crimbie was with - in sound of the guns of that battle. His father was born in the town of Saxton's River, Vt., and moved to and settled in the State of New York, from where he moved to Illinois, settling first in Crete, and afterwards in Galesburg.
Comrade Tuthill has filled every grade ou a railroad train except engineer, from train-boy to conductor. He was breaking on the first train that carried supplies for our troops through from Chicago to Cairo, which train had been threatened with destruction at Carbondale, by the rebel sympathizers, as it was carrying a large amount of ammunition and other munitions of war for the first of our troops stationed there. The train, however, strongly guarded, went safely through.
Corporal Tuthill saw all the long and tedious campaign of the Thir- teenth Regiment, up to the surrender of Vicksburg, and then, while General McPherson was in command, he was detailed for railroad serv- ice under Colonel J. Condit Smith, Chief Quartermaster of the Fifteenth Army-Corps, which was then Sherman's Corps, in which he served up to March, 1864, when he was furloughed ; but on April 15, 1864, reported back to Quartermaster Smith, at Huntsville, Ala., and on being relieved by that officer, from his detailed service, rejoined our regiment, then stationed in that vicinity.
It was at this time that our regiment, having but seven days more to serve to complete their term, and while at Madison Station, Ala., prepar- ing for their home journey to be mustered out, was attacked on May 17, 1864, by a considerable rebel force, far in excess of our own, commanded by the Confederate General Roddy, who were finally driveu off, but not until after a desperate fight on our part, and the capture of about sixty of our men. Among these latter was Corporal Tuthill ; and that part of the rebel force by which he was captured, was under the immediate command of a Colonel Patterson. The captors of our men robbed them of the contents of their pockets, and even of their haversacks, which contained some food.
The march of the prisoners was towards the Tennessee river ; and on that march one of the rebel guard by the name of Kendall, found
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CORPORAL ANSON C. TUTHILL. Company I.
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means to hold enough conversation with Corporal Tuthill to assure him that he himself fully intended to desert the rebel cause, and would have done so before then, had it not been for the fact that before leaving for the North he must draw from a small store of money which he had secreted, for his traveling expenses ; and the further and more impor- tant fact that, before leaving he must see a young lady whom he hoped sometime, to marry.
Being satisfied of the honesty of his guard, corporal Tuthill con- spired with him to effect his own escape ; and many plans were discussed which were either ineffectual, or too dangerous to undertake.
After crossing the Tennessee, the prisoners would be somewhat less vigilantly guarded, but the chances for escape would be fewer, and much more difficult of achievement. Kendall now proposed that his prisoner should feign sickness hoping to be left behind, trusting that something favorable would turn up ; but his prisoner was of the opinion that real sickness would do better ; and suiting the action to the word, he immediately swallowed a large quantity of tobacco-juice which made him deathly sick in earnest ; and he lay down in the road and begged to be killed; one of the subordinate rebel officers proposed to take him at his word, and all the other sick prisoners as well ; but Colonel Patterson would not allow so diabolical a scheme to be carried out ; and a more humane policy prevailed. Kendall was allowed to furnish the sick prisoner with a horse ; but comrade Tuthill was too sick to keep up with the main force, and he and Kendall were left to fall behind. Kendall now proposed to take his prisoner's blouse, shoot a hole through the body of it, and while the prisoner was making a desperate strike for liberty, he would take the blouse to Colonel Patterson and show it to him and swear that he had shot the damned Yankee while he was trying to ecsape. This plan was also given up as too dangerous while the Dixie side of the river was so thoroughly patrolled by Forest's forces.
Having reached Okalona, Mississippi, where the prisoners were turned over to the rebel General Forest, the captives were crowded into cattle-cars and taken to Meridian, Mississippi, during which journey they had nothing to eat until the paroled Vicksburg prisoners divided their rations with our boys of the Thirteenth, which partly satisfied their hunger.
From Meridian, again in cattle-cars to McDowal's Landing, on the Tombigbee River, where the beautiful natural surroundings of bursting flowers and foliage of the semi-tropical springtime, and the usually en- livening strains of a steamboat caliope, were in rude and chilling con- trast with the gloomy shadows, and dark forebodings of our unfortunate comrades on their sad journey to unknown rebel prisons.
From McDowal's Landing, the boys were put on board a transport and shipped to Demopolis, from there to Selma, and thence to Cahaba, .
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Alabama. After a few months they were returned to Meridian, Missis- sippi, and confined in the prisoners stockade, and suffered much from hunger and sickness ; and here Corporal Tuthill was enabled to do con- siderable towards ameliorationg the sad condition of those sick and hungry men, having been permitted to go outside the stockade and procure many needed comforts for his sick comrades.
It was here, and then, that Alonzo H. (Ben) Palmer, of Company I, killed, dressed and cooked. the old stockade cat which was devoured with the keenest relish ; and comrade Tuthill was offered ten dollars, payable after the war, on condition that the contracting parties lived to go home again, if he would deliver, dead or alive, inside the stockade, a certain well-to-do dog, which Ben Palmer, with a hungry covetousness had seen through the cracks or the stockade from day to day. But this, if discovered, would have deprived Corporal Tuthill of his partial liberty, and was given up.
In this stockade, and about this time, John Tirtlop, of company K, died.
And now, fearing that the Yankee General Wilson, in his great raid, might scoop in all their prisoners, and themselves as well, five hundred prisoners were hurried off back again to Calaba prison. This was about December, 1864. Through the ensuing winter, there were plenty of plots and plans for escape, but very few got safely off.
Next spring the rivers overflowed and the country was inundated : and the prisoners at Cahaba were obliged to climb anything at hand to keep out of the water, which was quite deep all through the prison, and it became necessary to remove the prisoners to prevent their drowning; for which purpose, the steamer Henry King took off the Cahaba prison- ers, who had to wade breast-high in water to reach the boat. On going on board hard-tack was poured on the deck, as though foddering hogs ; and the hungry prisoners scrambled eagerly for the precious food ; and Tim Horrigan, of company I scrabbled up more than the others, and hid it in his bosom under his shirt, lest the rebs should take it away from him. This he divided generously among his comrades, and it lasted two or three days.
Running down the Alabama to its junction with the Tombigbee, the steamer turned up the latter river, and the very first night, the cry of a man overboard, rang through the vessel, which promptly rounded to, and a short search discovered poor old Tim Horrigan, who had done the boys of the Thirteenth so good a turn in hiding so many crackers inside his shirt, on going on board the boat at Cahaba. Tim had caught hold of the limb of a tree that the Lord had caused the flood to set out in the river for Tim's use. Tim, it is a pleasure to say, was rescued, and lived to be mustered out of the service.
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On the way up to Gainsville, comrade Tuthill and his comrades suc- ceeded in spiking two guns for the Confederate states. .
From Gainsville, they were taken again to Meridian, and soon to Jackson, where they were paroled, went to Four-Mile Bridge, near Vicksburg, thence soon to St. Louis, where Comrade Tuthill was free from parades, prisons, and paroles ; and was mustered out of service on May 15th, 1865.
On November 14th, ISSS, Comrade Tuthill married Mrs. Sannie McCabe at Zanesville, Ohio. Mrs. McCabe was the widowed daughter of Dr. J. B. Irwin, who was very prominent in the work of sending for- ward both troops and surgeons from Ohio to the Union army. Dr. Irwin was State examining surgeon for Ohio. In both civil and political life, also, Dr. Irwin was no less prominent and popular, having been once mayor of the city of Putnam and two terms in succession he was mayor of the city of Zanesville, Ohio. Comrade Tuthill's wife had passed much of her early life in her father's office and was an accom- plished medical student. As the wife of a Union veteran soldier, Mrs. Tuthill patriotically seconds her husband in Grand Ariny movements, and in keeping alive, and cherishing the memories which lead back thirty years to the great struggle for National existence.
Comrade Tuthill, until recently, had been for two years, guide and lecturer at the Libby Prison War Museum in Chicago, but has now severed his connection with that institution, and is now merchandizing.
Latest address, 34S6 Archer Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.]
Israel C. Vining,
Original Seventh Corporal ; enlisted from Chicago, and mustered with the regiment.
Corporal Vining was born in Hatfield, Hampshire county, Mass .; was twenty-three years old, slim of build, about five feet ten inches tall, and would weigh about 135 pounds. Was of light complexion, light hair, and blue eyes, and by occupation. a broom-maker.
Corporal Vining had the disposition of a mild grumbler ; but it disturbed no one, and lie possessed many amiable qualities.
He died in hospital at Memphis, Tenn., on January 5, 1864, of chronic diarrhoea.
Edward R. Vining,
Was a brother of the above, with the same place of nativity and same occupation. He was the original Eightli Corporal ; enlisted from Chicago, and was mustered with the regiment.
Corporal E. R. Vining was thirty-one years old, light complex- ion, black hair and blue eyes, of medium stature, about five feet eight inches tall, and would weigh about 140 pounds.
When off duty, Corporal E. R. Vining was a most efficient mem- ber of Company Q, and in its service, never returned from the field
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of action unless laden with trophies of his prowess in the line of pigs, chickens, roosters, etc., and when on duty, he sought out the owners of the plunder mentioned above, and took their scalps if he could.
One of Corporal E. R. Vining's comrades who campaigned with him for three years, says that he was a perfect lion in a fight, and was absolutely without fear. His ancestors were of the real New England fighting stock.
Corporal Vining was mustered out with the regiment ; returned to Chicago and resumed his former occupation. He was never mar- ried, and is now an inmate of the National Soldier's Home at Mil- waukee, Wis.
A staunch and patriotic Unionist, a brave soldier, and a good friend. Michael Askins,
Private ; enlisted from Springfield, Ill., and was mustered with the regiment.
Private Askins was twenty-four years old, of dark complexion, black eyes and hair, compactly built, about five feet seven inches tall, and would weigh about 135 pounds. Corporal Askins (made such on Oct. 2d, 1861) served until June 14th, IS63, when he was promoted sergeant. He was left behind with the Telegraph Corps, (presumably about Vicksburg) and mustered out of service as ser- geant, June 22d, 1864.
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